You gave away PoK, we will get it back: Shah's dig at Congress

Congress Lok Sabha MPs from Kerala seek Centre's intervention for release of Catholic nuns jailed in Durg

Congress members from Kerala in Lok Sabha on Wednesday demanded government intervention for the release of two Catholic nuns jailed for alleged human trafficking and forced religious conversion in Chhattisgarh.

Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis along with Sukaman Mandavi were arrested at the Durg railway station in the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh on July 25 following a complaint by a local Bajrang Dal functionary, who accused them of forcibly converting three girls from Narayanpur and trafficking them.

Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Congress members K C Venugopal, K Francis George, K Suresh and Hibi Eden called the incident "deeply disturbing and shocking" as the nuns were innocent and doing social work by providing palliative care for cancer patients.

BJP Durg MP Vijay Baghel, on the other hand, alleged a conspiracy by the Congress MPs to disturb communal harmony and came out in support of the Chhattisgarh government for arresting the nuns.

Venugopal said the nuns were manhandled and "falsely accused" of religious conversion and human trafficking by Bajrang Dal members. The two nuns were stopped at the Durg railway station while they were travelling to Agra.

"These two nuns are in jail without any reason for the last five days. What a cruelty this is. Is the country a banana republic? ...We wrote to the chief minister of Chhattisgarh and home minister of India seeking release of the nuns. But the chief minister is repeating the same version of Bajrang Dal. What a shame," Venugopal said.

"This is a high time to act upon. If the government is not acting, the situation will go out of control. The situation in Kerala is also burning, everywhere agitation is happening... The government has to intervene, we need a clear answer and they have to release (the nuns) immediately," he said.

TMC MP Mamata: 'World can see how India is being slave to US'

During a discussion on Operation Sindoor in Rajya Sabha, TMC MP Mamata Thakur hits out at the Narendra Modi government, stating that the world is seeing India "being a slave" to the US, which supports Pakistan.

She went on to add that the India-Pakistan ceasefire was not a success.

"The world can see how India is being a slave to America which supports Pakistan. Ceasefire was not a success”, Thakur said.

Nadda: Local terrorism in J&K has ended after Article 370 abrogation

Nadda says local terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has ended after the abrogation of Article 370. He also said that the average live of a terrorist now is just seven days.

"Now, if I speak about Kashmir, what has changed since the abrogation of Article 370? The number of stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir, which stood at 2,654 during 2010–2014, has now come down to zero. For the last three years, there have been none. Earlier, under Article 302, the valley would remain shut for up to 132 days a year. Today, for the past three years, not a single day has seen a shutdown in the valley," Nadda said.

He added, "If you still can’t see the change, what more should I say? If someone is unwilling to acknowledge the progress, what can I do? You’re simply not seeing the transformation that has taken place. Similarly, local terrorism has come to an end. The terrorists operating today are foreign infiltrators. This is not a minor issue, and I am saying this on record. The average life span of a terrorist now is just seven days. Within a week, they are neutralised, and this is the result of our zero-tolerance policy against terrorism. I haven’t heard a word from your side yet. You've been silent since yesterday. Earlier, you used to speak loudly on such matters."

Nadda hits out at UPA: 'Pakistan fired bullets at us and UPA fed them biryani'

Nadda said the UPA government fed Pakistanis biryani when they fired bullets at India during their rule.

"Woh hume goliyoon se bhunte rahe aur hum unko biryani khilane chale (They fired bullets at us and we were feeding them biryani," said JP Nadda.

No PM has responded ever like Modi against terror attacks: Nadda

Nadda praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for acting against Pakistan over terror attacks. He said that no PM had ever responded like Modi since 1947.

"No Prime Minister has ever responded on such matters since 1947, and yet you all say, ‘PM should speak’. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks, the world listens. After the Balakot airstrike, PM Modi paid his respects at Palam Airport and said, ‘Pakistan has made a big mistake, and they will have to pay for it.’ That is the kind of political will we are talking about,” Nadda said.

Nadda lauds Armed Forces for success of Operation Sindoor

Nadda lauded the armed forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, and said the current government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sensitive and has planned how to deal with future acts of terror.

"I would like to say that this is a sensitive government. In the same spirit, its entire strategy and planning, including how it intends to act in the future, were being discussed in detail. Yesterday, the Prime Minister gave a comprehensive address on many of these issues in the Lok Sabha, which was heard not just across the country but also internationally. The Home Minister also shed light on several important aspects, and today, the Foreign Minister discussed other key elements. Therefore, I will not repeat those points. As the minister of the department concerned, he has taken responsibility on behalf of the country through this Parliament. But I would like to raise one important point, something we must reflect on seriously," Nadda said.

He added, "It is undeniable that the role played by our brave armed forces and police during the entire incident deserves deep respect and tribute from the nation. But through this House, I want to emphasise that political leadership also plays a crucial role, because it is the political leadership that commands the armed forces. That is why there is a clear difference between a responsible, responsive, sensitive, and proactive government, one that acts as per the demands of the situation, and another type of government altogether: an inactive government, one with a lukewarm attitude, and one that is non-reactive and non-responsive. To understand this difference, we must not look at the Pahalgam incident in isolation. Doing so would be an injustice, both to the nation and to the larger narrative. We need to view the situation in its entirety."

'Atrocious, shocking': Congress slams Jaishankar's remarks on Nehru, Indus Waters Treaty

The Congress on Wednesday termed as "atrocious" External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's remarks calling the Indus Waters Treaty appeasement by India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and said the minister showed that he has long given up the slightest pretence of being a professional.

The Congress' attack on Jaishankar came after his speech in Rajya Sabha while intervening in the special discussion on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam attack.

In his remarks, Jaishankar said the Narendra Modi government has corrected the wrongs of Nehru's policies by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty.

The treaty signed by Nehru was not to buy peace but for appeasement, the minister said.

Hitting back at Jaishankar, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Once upon a time the External Affairs Minister was known as a professional. Today he showed that he has long given up the slightest pretence of being one. His remarks on Nehru and the Indus Waters Treaty in the Rajya Sabha today were, to put it mildly, absolutely shocking." Jaishanker deliberately did not mention that without the three eastern rivers -- Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi -- being exclusively with India the Bhakra Nangal dam complex, key to the Green Revolution, would not have become a reality, he said.

Without the three eastern rivers being exclusively with India the transformative and long Rajasthan Canal would not have been possible and the Ravi-Beas link would not have been possible, Ramesh argued.

"Even on the Chenab and Jhelum, India has already implemented a number of hydel projects like Baglihar, Salal, Dul Hasti, Uri, and Kishenganga. A number of other projects are under execution. In June 2011, at the initiative of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Ltd was incorporated," the Congress leader said.

"It is true that Pakistan has obstructed the utilisation of what India is legally entitled to on the Chenab and Jhelum. But to call the Indus Waters Treaty communal appeasement by India's first Prime Minister - as the EAM did today - was simply atrocious," Ramesh said.

Congress had no political will to act against Pakistan after 26/11: Nadda

Continuing his attack on the Congress, Nadda said they had no political will to take action against Pakistan for 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

"We had the same police, Army, but there was no political will...At the 2009 SCO Summit, there was no mention of such a big terror attack in 2008," Nadda said.

Nadda slams Congress

Nadda slammed the Congress for appeasement politics during the UPA rule and taking no action against Pakistan.

"We need to understand the limits of their (then Congress govt) appeasement that after 2008 Jaipur bomb blasts by Indian Mujahideen, India and Pakistan agreed on a specific confidence-building measures...They gave permission for a triple-entry permit to cross LoC," Nadda said in Rajya Sabha.

Nadda: Terror, trade and terrorism continued between India and Pakistan during Congress rule despite bomb blasts

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the debate on Operation Sindoor, Union Minister JP Nadda said political leadership is extremely important as it gives directions to the armed forces.

Also, he targeted the Opposition for not taking action when they were in power after bomb blasts.

"The then government (Congress-led UPA) took no action in 2005 Delhi serial bomb blasts, 2006 Varanasi terror attack, 2006 Mumbai local trains bomb blasts....the point is - terror and trade and tourism continued between India and Pakistan then," he said.